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Archives for November 2009

Best of the Blogroll (November 2009)

November 30, 2009 by Dave Leave a Comment

In the same spirit as OurPDX’s shared links, I would like to highlight a few recent blog posts I have found particularly interesting or impressive or informative or just plain amusing, all of which happen to be from blogs in my blogroll.

Portland’s Food Carts on NBC at Food Carts Portland

Back in August, Portland was visited by NBC Nightly News to do a piece on Portland’s food cart scene. It was a great few days showing the producer around and chatting with him and introducing him to some of Portland’s cart owners.

Anti-Soccer Whines: ‘There’s Not Enough Scoring’ (one in a series) at The World is Round

People who haven’t grown up in soccer-rich cultures have a number of knee-jerk aversions to the sport that are worth considering and, inevitably, dimissing, and I’m going to take time now and again to do the hard job of exploring and negating them.

We’ll begin with a common plaint that has to do with the way some matches end — namely, with no goals having been scored.

Now Open: Portland Neighborhoods Bursting With New, Local Businesses at Neighborhood Notes

We’ve heard it enough: these are tough times. What we don’t hear enough is how creativity and gumption thrive—and are rewarded—during those tough times. Should it be any surprise, then, that here in this hothouse of ideas and cheap rents, more and more businesses are actually opening rather than closing?

Markets in Peril Update: Using Scare Tactics at Good Stuff NW

And you thought scare tactics were so last year. Turns out Dick Cheney isn’t the only one who wanted to frighten people into panicky overreactions…now food officials are summoning the image of (ick!) bloody diarrhea to try to support increased restrictions on Oregon’s burgeoning farmers’ markets.

Maybe Portland Doesn’t Suck After All… (pt.1) at Portland Sucks

Yet these past 2 months, just as the city I live in has seemed to hit rock bottom, I’ve discovered all over again just why I love this damn place so much. You can shove skyscrapers, banks, insurance companies, and annoying cell phone kiosks almost anywhere and call it a city, but you need good people to give that city a heart and a soul – and I’ve discovered that Portland has both when it counts, and it has them in abundance.

Oregon’s Only Frank Lloyd Wright House at Lelo in Nopo

The Gordon House at the Oregon Garden was up and moved from its rural farm property in 2001. It’s the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed building in the state, and I’ve been meaning to visit it for awhile. In fact, it’s the only Frank Lloyd Wright in the Pacific Northwest.


More Café Memories: Torrefazione Café
at Giovanna’s Trifles

The first years I lived in Portland, it was hard to imagine hanging out in cafés. Which was just as well, because there weren’t that many. But a few years and three kids later, something exciting happened. Torrefazione came to town. If Starbucks created a widespread thirst for espresso drinks (Berkeley cafés did it for me), Torrefazione focused that thirst.

Wine Wednesdays are back

November 30, 2009 by Dave Leave a Comment

(Almost) every Wednesday the Hotel Vintage Plaza (422 SW Broadway) hosts a Wine Wednesday wine tasting. A winery representative conducts the tasting and gives a wine education presentation. Appetizers are often provided, usually by the adjacent Pazzo Ristorante.

Call 503-228-1212 for reservations. Cost is $12 per person.

The schedule for the next few weeks:

  • December 2: Ports paired with chocolates from Leonidas
  • December 9: Amity Vineyards
  • December 16: Bubbles
  • December 13: Mary Hill Winery
  • January 20: Dobbes Family Estates

The 2009 Holiday Express begins boarding December 4

November 29, 2009 by Dave Leave a Comment

Holiday ExpressNow’s your chance to ride on vintage rail cars pulled by two of Portland’s historic steam locomotives, the SP&S 700 and the SP 4449. The 2009 Holiday Express starts rolling on December 4th.

The Oregon Pacific Railroad operated trains depart Oaks Park Station for a 40 minute ride along the river. I don’t know how he finds the time, but Santa Claus will make an appearance on each train. Volunteers have been preparing the trains for weeks for the excursions.

The SP&S 700 operates from December 4th through 6th. Below is a photo Heather took of this train last winter at the Vancouver, Washington terminal:

SP&S 700

The SP 4449, which we had the privilege of visiting last spring at Union Station on National Train Day, will be pulling the Holiday Express from December 11 through the 13th.

sp4449

Proceeds from the rides benefit the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation‘s mission to build a new home for Portland’s three steam locomotives. Visit the Holiday Express website for ticket and schedule information.

December 5: Season’s Eatings at New Deal Distillery

November 28, 2009 by Dave Leave a Comment

SeasonsEatingsSeason’s Eatings, a local artisans food, wine and spirits market, takes place Saturday, December 5th from noon to 5pm at the New Deal Distillery and Tasting Room (1311 SE 9th).

Participating artisans include:

Xocolatl de David
Monteillet Fromagerie
Little Red Bike Cafe
Organics to You
Tails and Trotters
Cafe Velo
River Wave Foods
Nonna’s Noodles
Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery
Black Sheep Bakery
Pacific Pie Company
New Deal Distillery
Patton Valley Vineyards

A benefit for the Oregon Food Bank, some of the region’s best chocolates, cheeses, wines, spirits, charcuterie, baked goods, and pasta will be available to sample and to purchase.

Admission is free with one non-perishable food item or cash donation.

December 5-6: ScanFair 2009

November 28, 2009 by Dave Leave a Comment

mevikingCome for the Scandinavian food, crafts, and the 54th crowning of Oregon’s Lucia Queen of Light. Stay for the Pickled Herring Eating Contest at noon Saturday. The Scandinavian Heritage Foundation’s 25th Annual ScanFair takes place this weekend at PSU’s Smith Center.

The fair is on the 3rd floor of the Smith Memorial Center (1825 SW Broadway). Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and children under 12 get in free.

The event raises funds for PSU Nordic language classes and the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, the mission of which is to preserve, communicate and celebrate Scandinavian heritage and culture.

Though primarily a holiday bazaar, we had a great time at last year’s ScanFair.

The highlight was the annual pickled herring eating contest. The winner, Nick Capri, took home as a prize a bottle of Krogstad Aquavit, made by Portland’s House Spirits.

And yes, we have footage:

Pickled Herring Eating Contest from Dave Knows on Vimeo.

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